Unofficial Portkey Archive

Story by: Silver Dragon
E-Mail: darkheart8one@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: Here's the next chapter for you to enjoy!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, characters, and all related names and phrases are either copyright and/or registered trademarks of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros. and/or their respective owners. This is a fanfiction, no copyright infringement is intended.

Hermione's teeth clenched as a sharp stinging pain shot through her left thigh. What the hell had just happened? One moment she and Harry were about to share their first kiss and the next moment it felt like someone had jabbed dozens of tiny red hot needles into her leg.

"What's wrong?" asked Harry, his eyes filled with concern, as Hermione reached down and pulled a flower from the back of her leg. "That's a...

"Fanged geranium," finished Hermione before tossing the thing none to gently away.

"I knew those things could bite," said Harry. "But does it actually hurt? It's just a flower."

"How about I get a handful of needles, heat them 'till they're red hot, then shove them in your leg and then you tell me if it hurts." Hermione winced as sweat soaked rough wool brushed against the tiny wounds.

"Ok . . . " Harry was taken aback by Hermione's reaction. "Sorry. Where'd it bite you?"

"None of your business!" snapped Hermione. She had had enough embarrassment for one day.

Well that answers that, thought Harry. Even though he knew Hermione wouldn't be happy about it, and neither would be totally comfortable with it, Harry knew that he would have be the one to treat it. "Unless you've got a mirror I'm gonna have to be the one to check and make sure you're ok."

"I . . . No Harry. I'll go see Madame Pomfrey when we get out of here." Harry gave her a concerned look but didn't say anything more.

"So . . . " Harry trailed off. What could they talk about? "Why don't I feel like jumping you," they both blushed deeply, "anymore?"

"Huh?" Hermione cringed at each little scrape of rough cloth on the back of her leg. "Oh! You mean the amarellia. The effects don't last for very long unless you eat a lot of it."

A contemplative look fell across Harry's features as he thought about that. "Then what good is it?" he asked after a few seconds.

"Like I said before, it's just too . . . Do we really have to talk about this?" asked Hermione, causing Harry to chuckle.

"Why Miss Granger, if I didn't know any better I'd say you are embarrassed by this conversation."

"And you aren't Mr. Potter?" Harry's slightly pinkish cheeks betrayed his denial. "Thought so," replied Hermione as she smiled at him before wincing in pain again.

"Come on Hermione. Let me look at it." Hermione didn't say anything or move. "It's not like I'll be seeing something I haven't seen already today." Hermione's eyes opened wide in shock before narrowing into a glare. "H-hey! It's the truth!" Defended Harry, his arms outstretched as if to fend her off. "And you know that you'll get behind on your studying if you get an infection and have to spend a few days in the hospital wing." A triumphant grin settled on Harry's face as he saw Hermione's resolve start to crumble.

" . . . fine . . . " muttered Hermione as she turned away from him. "But if I hear just one lewd remark or . . . or anything then not even Dumbledore will be able to reverse what I'll do to you!"

"Are lewd thoughts ok?" asked Harry, causing Hermione to spin back around and give him a deadly look. "Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood."

"Hmph . . . " Hermione turned away from again him and nervously pulled up the back of her skirt.

Harry sucked in a breath while watching as inch after inch of bare leg was uncovered and was suddenly struck by the thought that this, perhaps, hadn't been the brightest thing he'd every suggested. Very nice . . . thought Harry as he knelt down to get a better look at the wound on Hermione's leg. His mind spun with thoughts of could does, most of which were things that would get him hexed, and should does as he reached out a shaking hand.

"Harry!" His name came out as a strangled groan, or perhaps it was a moan, as Hermione jumped at the feeling of Harry's hand on her leg. By Merlin if this was wrong then Hermione didn't want to be right. This felt so dirty, so depraved. If that fanged geranium had bitten only a few inches higher then she would have had to . . . No! If that had been the case then there was no way in hell that she would have let Harry examine the wound then.

"Sor-ry," Harry's voice cracked, mouth dry and throat parched. It felt like half the blood in his body was setting his cheeks on fire while the other half had ventured below his belt. Never had he thought or dreamt that Hermione's skin would be so soft and warm. You could say that it felt like silk under his gently caressing fingertips but then that would make silk softer and more lustrous then it was. "It doesn't," Harry cleared his throat nervously, "it doesn't look that bad. But I should clean it just to be safe." With a quick wave of his wand he conjured up a bowl of water and a cloth.

Hermione jumped when the damp cloth made contact with the back of her leg. "That's cold."

"Sorry," Harry before casting a quick warming charm on the bowl of water. "There. All done," he said a minute later as he stood and dried his hands on his pant legs, he quickly took a seat on a nearby table to hide his shame as much as possible.

"Thank you Harry," replied Hermione, her cheeks red as she fixed her skirt.

Several minutes passed in silence with only the occasional rustle of leaves or sound of dripping water breaking it. Neither teen could remember an awkward silence that equaled this one.

"You know," said Harry, drawing Hermione's attention away from the falling snow outside the greenhouse, "I meant what I said earlier."

Hermione quirked an eyebrow at him, "What was that Harry?"

"That you've got a great body," he replied with an awkward half smile/smirk before grinning at her and adding, "and you've definitely got a great arse."

Hermione's forehead furrowed and her eyes narrowed as she glared at him, but she could only keep it up for a second before laughing at him. "You've got a nice arse on you too."

"Really?" asked Harry as he hopped off the table and tried to look at his own behind, causing Hermione to laugh harder.

"Definitely. If there was an award for the best tush at Hogwarts then you'd get my vote!" Hermione replied while blushing and laughing.

"And you'd get mine," replied Harry while laughing along with her before sitting next to her on the table.

Slowly their laughter quieted to the occasional chuckle before slipping back into silence. This time, however, there wasn't any awkwardness. It was just a pause in conversation since neither could think of anything to talk about.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but closed it quickly. There was something she wanted to talk about but she didn't know how to go about it. Or at least how to make it sound like she wasn't a love sick schoolgirl. "Harry, how come you haven't gone on a date with anyone since Cho?"

"I . . . I don't know," replied Harry before taking several long seconds to gather his thoughts on the matter. Truth be told he hadn't ever thought about dating anyone since then. "I guess you could say that Cho was a disappointment."

A disappointment? thought Hermione. "How so?"

"I . . . well she . . . " How to put it? What was it he wanted to say? "I didn't really like her I guess. I mean I liked her but I didn't like her." Hermione looked at him, her thoughts and feelings unreadable. "And I realized that I was just a trophy to her." A snort from Hermione drew his attention to her.

"Was that before or after the kiss?" Was it Harry's imagination or were Hermione's words tinged with anger and, perhaps, even jealousy?

"Before." Hermione's eyes narrowed for the briefest of moments before she pushed all emotion from her face.

"Then why did you kiss her, or let her kiss you, or whatever it was that happened if you didn't like her?"

"I didn't," replied Harry as he stared out one of the frost covered windows.

"You didn't?" Harry definitely heard a tone of relief in her voice. "But you..."

"But I described the kiss?" Harry gave an amused chuckle. "Come on Hermione. You're the brightest witch of the century and the closest person to me. Do you honestly think I could only think to describe a kiss as wet?"

"But you looked so shocked afterward."

"When she tried to kiss me something just clicked in my mind and I realized something. And what I realized really shocked and frightened me."

Hermione, her subconscious filling her voice with hope for something that she'd never admit, asked, "And what is it that you realized?"

Harry blushed and looked away from her. "I don't remember." It was an obvious lie but Hermione, for once, didn't seem to notice. Or at least he thought she didn't notice.

"Oh . . . " Why would he lie about that? He wouldn't lie unless . . . "Who is that you realized you like?" Hermione had never seen someone's head snap up so fast.

"Who said I that I like someone? I didn't say that I like someone! I said I don't remember what I realized! And . . . why are you looking at me like that?"

Hermione smirked at him, "You ever heard the old adage 'me thinks thou doth protest too much?'"

"Yes. But I-" Harry made the mistake of looking into Hermione's eyes. Those gold and cinnamon flecked chocolate orbs were faintly masking something. He could see it just bellow the surface. "Ok fine. I realized that I like someone else." Hermione smiled in triumph. "And no. I'm not going to tell you who it is."

Hermione shrugged, "That's ok. I'll get it out of you somehow." She looked away in thought for a moment. "I know, I'll guess. And," her eyes narrowed, causing Harry to gulp nervously, "you will tell me if I guess right."

"S-sure thing," stuttered Harry. It wasn't that he was worried she'd guess correctly. Just that her glares made him feel like running for the hills. It was, he had found out from Ron, the way he and his brothers felt whenever their mother looked at them that way. It was something known to muggle and wizard alike as The Look. And, while generally frightening no matter who the woman was that gave The Look, it was generally only a man's girlfriend, wife, or mother that could truly instill fear in him with it.

"So," Hermione studied his face for a second, "who is it that our little Harry has the hots for? It's Ginny isn't it?"

"Ginny?!" Harry looked rather taken aback.

"Why not? She's quite pretty."

"Yea. She's pretty and all. But . . . I think of her more like a little sister. Not to mention that Ron would probably pound me if I dated his sister."

"Hmm, ok. You're probably right about that. And I'm positive that it's not Lavender or Parvati." Harry smiled and nodded. "How about . . . " she tapped a finger against her chin in thought before smirking evilly, "Madame Pompfrey?"

"I . . . you . . . what?!" Harry's eyes were wide in shock and Hermione was sure she could see a greenish tinge to his skin. "I can't believe you just said that!"

"Well it would explain why you seem to spend so much time in the hospital wing," replied a giggling Hermione. Yes, Hermione Granger was giggling at the look on Harry's face. And the young wizard beside her found the sound and site of his best friend giggling to be a most enjoyable one indeed. "Ok ok, I just couldn't resist that," said Hermione after calming herself a little. "So perhaps Mr. Potter's secret crush is . . . Daphne Greengrass?"

Harry snorted and said, "Maybe in some sick and twisted alternate reality."

"Ok, Pansy Parkinson?" Harry rolled his eyes. "Susan Bones?"

"She's cute but not my type. Though perhaps she and Ron would be good together."

"Mandy Brocklehurst?" Harry made of show of sticking his finger down his throat, causing Hermione to laugh. "Hmm . . . what other girls are there . . . ? Luna Lovegood?"

"I . . .no way. Besides the fact that I don't really care for blonde hair I'd like to be able to have at least a semi-intelligent conversation."

"You do realize that she's in Ravenclaw don't you?"

"Ok, so maybe she is smart. I just think she's weird." Hermione nodded in agreement before continuing their little guessing game.

Ah! I know who it is! Millicent Bulstrode!" Harry blinked at her while thinking that, perhaps, Hermione had finally cracked.

"The only thing I like about her is the memory of you turning into her cat during second year," replied Harry, a soft smile on his face as he thought back to his frequent visits to the hospital wing during second year.

"What are you talking about? That was horrible! I felt like I was never going to stop coughing up hair balls!"

"Well you made a really pretty kitty," said Harry, making Hermione blush.

"Thanks . . . I think . . . " replied Hermione.

"Speaking of you as a cat, I liked how you used to purr whenever I came to visit you."

Hermione smiled, "Yea I . . . WHAT? I did no such thing!"

"Yes you did. Sometimes when I came to visit you were taking a little cat nap," he grinned goofily at the horrible pun while Hermione just shook her head, "I'd sit down next to your bed or touch your hand and you would start purring." Hermione's face was becoming quite red as Harry spoke. Why hadn't anyone told her about this before?

"Did . . . er . . . did anyone else notice it?"

"I don't think so," Harry shook his head. "I asked Madame Pompfrey about it and she said that you only did it when I was around you."

"Oh . . . " Silence, uncomfortable from Hermione's point of view, settled over them as she forced herself back to their previous discussion.

Why would Harry have been afraid of his feelings for this girl that he realized he liked? And why would he not want to share that information with her? Unless . . . Maybe . . . Maybe it's . . . me? thought Hermione as her heart began to race. But it can't be me. I'm just . . . plain.

Harry raised a questioning eyebrow at her when Hermione hadn't said anything for a minute or so.

"I . . . " Great. For once in my life I can't find the words for what I'm thinking . . . "Harry, is it . . . me?" Her question was whispered so quietly that she hoped Harry hadn't heard. But she was wrong for his eyes went wide in shock. He hadn't been expecting to guess that! But then it would likely be a cold day on Venus when Harry managed to hide anything from her for long.

"I . . . umm . . . I . . . " Hermione smiled softly and blushed at Harry's faltering words while a wave of relief flooded through her.

"It's ok Harry. I," she took a steadying breath, "love you too." A look of horror ghosted Hermione's features. She had said love! Stupid stupid stupid! Hermione yelled in her mind while mentally slapping herself. In her mind she had said like but when her lips moved they said love.

Harry's eyes became wide and his jaw dropped. "L-love?!" Surely he had heard her wrong. All those bumps on the head over the last six years must have finally caught up to him. "You . . . love me?" It sounded so strange for someone to say that too him. Nobody loved him. It just wasn't something that he thought possible. He's Harry. The kid forced to live under the stairs for the first eleven years of his life before discovering that he is not only a wizard but that he is famous in the wizarding world. No. People may like him, be friends with him. But they didn't love him.

"I . . . " Hermione made a frustrated sound deep in her throat. "Look, Harry. I do, on some level, love you. But I . . . " Hermione glanced at Harry and saw a rather odd expression that she couldn't put words to on his face.

"It's ok and I understand." Was it just her or did Harry sound disappointed? Or perhaps it was anger? "You love me like a friend or brother." Ok, yes, it had been disappointment she had heard. But why would he be disappointed?

Hermione opened her mouth to speak but closed it again as she rethought her words. "No, Harry. It's not ok. And . . . I . . . I don't understand any of this!" she yelled while jumping off the table. "This is so bloody frustrating!" exclaimed Hermione as she kicked one of the table legs.

"'Mione, calm down. It's alright," said Harry, his voice calm and soothing if not lacking the confusion he felt.

"No Harry. It's not ok! I . . . care for you as a friend. But it's . . . it's so much more then that. And I just can't take this anymore. What I feel for you is . . . it's much more then what I, then what my mind tells me I should. But my heart keeps telling me it's not enough. That you deserver more than . . . I'm just not good enough. I'm smart and clever and all that other rubbish that doesn't matter. I'm not pretty or funny or . . . " tears started to fall from her eyes, "or any of the stuff that matters when you-" Hermione's tirade was cut off by Harry's strong arms encircling her.

"Shh . . . " Harry soothed, feeling her tears soaking into his shirt, as he gently rubbed her back. "It's ok." This time Hermione didn't say otherwise. "And you are wrong Hermione. You are more than good enough. Without you I don't know where I'd be right now," he whispered softy, his chin resting on the top of her head.

"P-probably d-dead," replied Hermione. Her voice catching a few times as she cried into Harry's shirt.

"Yea. You have saved my life many a time." He felt Hermione pull away from him slightly, allowing him to see the doubt in her eyes. "It's true. Even if you don't do it directly it's always some little piece of knowledge you somehow managed to cram through my thick skull that saved me." A tiny smile lightened Hermione's face. "And don't you ever, even for one second, think that you're not pretty."

"But," Hermione wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand, "Parvati and-"

"And what? I thought we covered this earlier," Harry moved so that she was at arms length and he could look her in the eyes. "You, Hermione Jane Granger, have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to looks. And I, for one, find you to be the best piece of eye candy around." Hermione gave him a very odd look before laughing a little.

"You've been spending way too much time with Ron."

Harry shrugged, "We've shared the same dorm room for six years. Something was bound to rub off on me."

"Too bad it's the bad things."

Harry quirked an eyebrow at her, "You mean there's good things about Ron?" The amused glint in his eyes belied the seriousness in his voice.

"You know what I . . . " Hermione moved out of Harry's grasp and looked away from him, her face downcast but still unable to hide her embarrassment from him. "I'm sorry Harry. I really don't know what came over me. The heat must be getting to me."

"It's alright. I don't mind," Harry replied truthfully. "You can't be the calm collected one all the time." Hermione gave a very unlady like snort which, secretly, Harry found to be rather cute.

"Well I certainly demonstrated that just now," said Hermione, a lopsided grin on her face. Harry moved in front of her and smiled, causing all of her worries to melt away for the time being, and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"If you didn't break down every once in a while then I'd really be worried about you." He brought a hand to Hermione's chin and gently lifted her head so she was looking at him again. "You can't keep your feelings bottled up forever. Trust me. I know. One day everything will be fine and the next thing you know you've blown up all the TVs in the house and turned your relative's hair green."

Hermione giggled and smiled. "I have never done such a thing."

"So it's just me that that happens to?" he asked with a curious happy smirk.

"Well one time I . . . " Hermione cheeks suddenly turned very red. "Yes. It only happens to you."

"Oh no you don't Hermione," said Harry as he crossed his arms of his chest much like Hermione is apt to do when she has put her foot down. "I want to know what you were going to say."

"I . . . look, it's nothing ok? Just drop it!" demanded Hermione before walking away from him.

Harry's interest only increased "Come on Hermione. You can tell me."

Hermione glared at him while he pouted and gave her his best impression of a lost little puppy. She knew he was only trying to pry it from her and damn if it wasn't working. "Fine!" exclaimed Hermione as she threw her arms up in defeat. "When I was little," she sighed in disbelief that she was telling him this, "we were doing finger painting in school and this one girl was picking on me and taking my paints." Harry gave her a sympathetic look. Dudley had been kind enough to pick on him at school and ensure that he wouldn't have a single good day. "Then, for no reason at all, she just reached over and smeared my painting. Something just . . . snapped inside me and the next thing I knew there was a bottle of paint hovering over her. I tried to grab it but I umm ended up covering myself in paint."

"That's it?" asked Harry as he chuckled lightly at the mental image. "I did something like that to Dudley when we were little. Only it was blue dye and he was the one that got covered in it. It's not a big deal 'Mione."

"Well it's a big deal to me so stop laughing!" Harry instantly sobered up and uttered an apology.

"Look I . . . " Harry fumbled for something to say. "I'm sure you looked really cute covered in paint. What color was it?"

"It was yellow! And no, I didn't look cute!"

Harry grinned at her, seemingly driving away Hermione's bad mood, and replied, "Well I guess not. Yellow really isn't your color."

"Oh? So if I were to wear yellow robes to the next ball I wouldn't be beautiful?"

"No. I think you'd look beautiful in nothing," replied Harry, grinning at her. Hermione blushed and turned away as Harry's face reddened in realization. "Anything! I meant to say anything, not nothing! N-not that you wouldn't look good na-nak . . . in n-nothing . . . " Both teens seemed to find the plants surrounding and enveloping them very interesting at that moment. Why had he said that? Had the heat clouded his mind or . . .

Hermione's face could have been mistaken for a ripe tomato if not for the obvious human features. "Love those Freudian slips," she muttered as a pleased smile toyed with the corners of her mouth. The thought that Harry might find her birthday suit to his liking was not altogether a bad thing in her mind.

Harry sat there, cursing himself within the confines of his mind. Who had he crossed to make this day so messed up? It surely wasn't Voldemort since he'd simply just try to kill him. Perhaps it was Fred and George then? Those two were always pulling pranks after all. But no, this wasn't their style. If it was the twins then Harry would have more then likely found himself suddenly changing colors or emitting strange sounds or odors. After many minutes of contemplation he decided that fate was once again rearing her ugly head and putting yet another cruel twist in his life. But then realization of a new sort dawned on him, spreading its warm ethereal tendrils over him as the sun does the land. Today wasn't bad or messed up. It was just different. And the difference, as odd or unsettling as it may seem, was good. He had nearly kissed Hermione twice since being trapped within the transparent confines of the greenhouse. What would have happened if they had kissed? Harry knew that he definitely liked the thought of kissing Hermione. Why else would he have almost done it twice already if not? And as for Hermione's feelings on the matter, well, he was sure that she probably wouldn't mind it either.

His eyes wandered to her as she slowly paced back and forth, her brow furrowed in thought and her face flushed, before sitting on the floor and leaning against one of the table legs. Did she harbor feelings for him? And if so just how far did those feelings go? For that matter, how far did his own feelings go? The most obvious and easiest way to find out would be to ask. But then would that reveal the truth or simply mask it behind a veil of insecurity and fear? There was only one sure way to find out. And he only hoped, if he were wrong, that their friendship would survive. But it would have to wait for he didn't want to risk anything just yet.

What am I going to do? thought Hermione. It's obvious that he cares about me and I know I care for him as well. What happens from here? Do I tell him how I feel or wait 'till he tells me? Should I kiss him or wait for- Hermione's train of thought was suddenly cut short by Harry grabbing her arm and spinning her around to face him.

Confusion and puzzlement filled her along with a sense of anticipation as she looked into his eyes. Those emerald pools were filled with determination and fear as his hand was tenderly cupping her cheek, caressing her with his gentle touch and cutting off her voice before she had said a word. Hermione saw Harry's brow crease for an instant before his features softened and he slowly lifted her chin while lowering his heard. She felt herself stiffen at the feeling his breath caressing her. This was it. This time it was going to happen. This time they were going to kiss! But then, suddenly, Harry turned her head to the side and started licking her cheek.

Hehe . . . not exactly a cliffhanger. But still a pretty rotten place for me to end if I do say so myself. ^_^ The "cold day on Venus" line I have to credit to Amethyst. I don't remember how it came about as it's been so long since I originally wrote this. While writing this originally she also helped with Hermione's guesses as to who Harry might like.

As always, please leave a review since your feedback is always welcomed and appreciated!